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Agency 055
Administrator for the Courts
RCW 2.56

Request

$76,976,483

Net change from current biennium

$8,124,607

Increase

Percent change from current biennium

11.8%

Increase

The Office of the Administrator for the Courts, operating under the direction of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, studies the operations of the court system, makes recommendations for improvement, and is responsible to the Supreme Court for the execution of administrative policies and rules as applicable to the Washington judicial system. This court system includes the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, superior courts, and courts of limited jurisdiction.

The primary goal of the Office of the Administrator for the Courts is to develop and promote modern management procedures within the state's court system by: encouraging orderly collection and compilation of court statistics; encouraging cost-effective use of automated information systems; providing training and education of judicial staff; and providing research, development, and coordination support for the state's judicial staff.

Agency Level Summary

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Operating Budget: Summary
1995-97 Appropriations								Appropriated Funds							Expenditures
	Amount		Estimated Balance											1993-95 Actual			1995-97 Estimated		1997-99 Proposed
24,228,230				770,810				General Fund - Basic Account - State							23,597,248			23,457,420		28,525,947
32,283,141								Public Safety & Education Account - State							26,214,963			32,283,141		33,459,469
								Public Safety & Education Account - Federal Unanticipated							2,113
22,664				20,348				Public Safety & Education Account - Private/Local Unanticipated							91,155			2,316
35,000								Violence Reduction/Drug Enforcement - State							6,473,210			35,000
13,074,000				1				Judicial Information Systems Acct - State							5,276,992			13,073,999		14,991,067
								Health Services Account - State							713
69,643,035				791,159				Total Appropriated Funds							61,656,394			68,851,876		76,976,483

Operating Budget: Summary by Object

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries And Wages				13,095,381			13,667,923			14,359,813			15,285,570			15,350,974
Employee Benefits				4,171,684			4,346,492			3,538,037			3,558,653			3,732,866
Personal Service Contracts				985,500			1,816,097			4,027,798			4,110,822			2,420,874
Goods And Services				10,091,984			8,695,818			12,661,063			8,179,264			10,264,818
Travel				527,246			488,617			551,968			628,565			850,709
Capital Outlays				5,015,100			310,825			3,294,618			4,595,431			5,880,617
Grants, Benefits & Client Services				534,187			445,485			704,300			692,682			754,300
Debt Service				360,551			363,114			360,000			362,562			360,000
Interagency Reimbursements				(107,119)			(780,092)						(52,224)

Annual Total				34,674,514			29,354,279			39,497,597			37,361,325			39,615,158

Operating Budget: Program Summary

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Administration				1,542,485			633,864			666,223			2,382,513			2,429,021
Judicial Information System				12,732,383			9,192,086			17,629,383			13,959,128			15,397,004
Judicial Services				2,764,548			2,297,491			2,689,511			2,495,517			2,731,448
Special Programs				3,861,973			3,831,536			3,958,308			3,834,425			4,080,815
Superior Court Judges				11,912,684			11,325,127			12,270,293			12,606,414			12,658,334
Management Services				1,860,441			2,074,175			2,283,879			2,083,328			2,318,536
Annual Total				34,674,514			29,354,279			39,497,597			37,361,325			39,615,158
Fiscal Year 1993-94				26,981,880
Biennium Total				61,656,394			68,851,876						76,976,483

Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium

				1993-95 Actual								1995-97 Estimated								1997-99 Proposed
				Amount			Percent				Amount					Percent			Amount					Percent
Administration			(3,293,752)			(61.4)%				(767,860)					(37.1)%			3,511,447					270.1%
Judicial Information System			5,642,898			38.7%				6,587,171					32.6%			2,534,663					9.5%
Judicial Services			(820,499)			(13.7)%				(179,343)					(3.5)%			239,963					4.8%
Special Programs			(833,304)			(10.1)%				343,237					4.6%			125,396					1.6%
Superior Court Judges			1,796,263			8.3%				211,105					0.9%			1,669,328					7.1%
Management Services			3,356,882							1,001,172					29.8%			43,810					1.0%
Belated Claims			(28,515)			(100.0)%

Total			5,819,973			10.4%				7,195,482					11.7%			8,124,607					11.8%

Employment Summary

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			285.2		300.3			307.5				321.4				321.5
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			45,916			45,514		46,699				47,559				47,748

Program Level Detail

Administration

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The Administration program provides overall management to the Office of the Administrator for the Courts based on direction from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Administrator has ultimate responsibility for the development and implementation of all agency policies and directives and coordination with state executive and legislative agencies as well as federal and local government agencies on judicial policy issues.

The program's objectives include improving administrative support services and developing effective policies and programs to attract, retain, and motivate employees.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			7.0		7.0			7.0				8.0				8.0
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			71,370			56,236		51,932				52,986				50,137

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			622,851			477,033			440,738			514,893			488,251
Grants and Subsidies			185
Other Operating Costs			919,449			156,831			225,485			1,867,620			1,940,770

Annual Total			1,542,485			633,864			666,223			2,382,513			2,429,021
Fiscal Year 1993-94			525,462
Biennium Total			2,067,947			1,300,087						4,811,534

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - State														1,700,000			1,700,000
Public Safety & Education Account - State				1,542,485			633,864				666,223			682,513			729,021

Annual Total				1,542,485			633,864				666,223			2,382,513			2,429,021

Judicial Information System

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The Judicial Information System (JIS) program provides a comprehensive package of automated information handling services to facilitate the processing of the court's caseload.

The objectives of the program are to: increase the percentage of the state's court caseload processing that is assisted by computerized handling of information; increase the quality and improve the availability of the court's information; and shorten the response time on requests for case information.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			60.8		77.1			77.1				85.1				85.1
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			44,635			40,587		45,362				50,440				49,201

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			3,362,814			3,881,215			4,330,630			5,276,013			5,176,907
Grants and Subsidies			1,407									50,000			50,000
Other Operating Costs			9,368,162			5,310,871			13,298,753			8,633,115			10,170,097

Annual Total			12,732,383			9,192,086			17,629,383			13,959,128			15,397,004
Fiscal Year 1993-94			7,501,915
Biennium Total			20,234,298			26,821,469						29,356,132

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Public Safety & Education Account - State				7,563,999			7,352,214				6,395,256			7,506,671			6,858,394
Judicial Information Systems Acct - State				5,168,384			1,839,872				11,234,127			6,452,457			8,538,610

Annual Total				12,732,383			9,192,086				17,629,383			13,959,128			15,397,004

Judicial Services

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The Judicial Services program provides comprehensive professional and technical support to Washington's judges and court personnel. The Judicial Services program provides ongoing support to the courts in the following major areas: court management analysis, technical assistance, and special projects; research and management reporting; law-related education/public information; publication of court rules and procedures manuals; and education and training for judges and court personnel.

The program's objectives are to: improve the quality and usefulness of court caseload statistics; provide statistical analysis needed for court management and policy making; analyze causes of congestion and delay and assist the judiciary in implementing improved case processing procedures; increase the technical competence of the court staff through a variety of education programs; decrease the cost of developing and publishing benchbooks and procedure manuals; improve the relationship between the bench and the press; and increase public understanding of the bench.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			31.2		25.5			31.0				31.0				31.0
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			39,070			46,111		42,386				40,229				42,386

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			1,499,053			1,454,096			1,630,477			1,550,272			1,629,514
Grants and Subsidies			81,650			46,270						46,270
Other Operating Costs			1,183,845			797,125			1,059,034			898,975			1,101,934

Annual Total			2,764,548			2,297,491			2,689,511			2,495,517			2,731,448
Fiscal Year 1993-94			2,401,797
Biennium Total			5,166,345			4,987,002						5,226,965

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - State				550
Public Safety & Education Account - State				2,763,998			2,297,491				2,654,511			2,495,517			2,731,448
Violence Reduction/Drug Enforcement - State											35,000

Annual Total				2,764,548			2,297,491				2,689,511			2,495,517			2,731,448

Special Programs

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The Office of the Administrator for the Courts' responsibilities also include statutory coordination, support, and oversight for several special programs. Some of these programs have independent boards that set policy and direction for these programs.

The Board for Trial Court Education (BTCE) program directs the development of judicial education programs and activities for judges and court personnel in the Washington court system. The programs are planned cooperatively by the BTCE, the education committees of the county clerks, district and municipal court administrators, district and municipal court judges, juvenile court administrators, superior court administrators, superior court judges, and the Office of the Administrator for the Courts Judicial Education Section.

The Gender and Justice Commission was established by court order to ensure fair and equal treatment of all persons who access the justice system, regardless of gender. At the direction of the Commission, the Office of the Administrator for the Courts facilitates education programs and summit meetings, and produces a variety of materials for judges and court personnel on issues relating to gender and justice, spousal maintenance, and domestic violence.

The Minority and Justice Commission was established by court rule to ensure nondiscrimination in the administration of justice. The Commission provides information activities and recommendations to foster cultural diversity and awareness within the judiciary. In addition, the Commission develops and conducts cultural diversity training and recruitment and selection training programs.

The Court Interpreter Certification program is established by statute and court rule to test and certify court interpreters. The program provides training and tools to enable judges to use interpreters efficiently and provides assistance to courts in identifying qualified interpreters for languages which may not be common in their communities. The program also works with colleges to train potential court interpreters about the court environment and their role in it.

The Snohomish County Pre-Prosecution Diversion program is designed to hold an offender accountable for his or her criminal acts and to maintain community safety without incurring the expense of formal prosecution. It is offered primarily to first-time offenders who commit one of a limited number of crimes. A policy decision package has been submitted requesting that this program be transferred to an appropriate executive branch agency.

Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) in Washington is a network of programs that serve as a bridge among the criminal justice system, substance abusing felons, and treatment programs. The Washington State TASC Network includes programs in Clark, King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, and Yakima counties.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			2.6		2.6			2.6				2.3				2.6
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			38,323			45,750		48,867				51,717				48,867

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			124,459			148,752			160,324			148,683			160,240
Grants and Subsidies			50,000						90,188						90,188
Other Operating Costs			3,687,514			3,682,784			3,707,796			3,685,742			3,830,387

Annual Total			3,861,973			3,831,536			3,958,308			3,834,425			4,080,815
Fiscal Year 1993-94			3,584,634
Biennium Total			7,446,607			7,789,844						7,915,240

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - State				148,475
Public Safety & Education Account - State				454,410			3,829,220				3,958,308			3,834,425			4,080,815
Public Safety & Education Account - Federal Unanticipated				2,113
Public Safety & Education Account - Private/Local Unanticipated				17,275			2,316
Violence Reduction/Drug Enforcement - State				3,239,578
Health Services Account - State				122

Annual Total				3,861,973			3,831,536				3,958,308			3,834,425			4,080,815

Superior Court Judges

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This program pays the constitutionally required one-half of the superior court judge's salary and benefits. One-half of each superior court pro-tem and mandatory arbitration judge's salary is also paid through this program.

The objective of the program is to provide prompt payment of all legally authorized expenses.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			157.2		158.0			159.0				165.0				164.0
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			48,285			49,228		49,889				49,279				49,978

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			10,423,216			10,698,291			9,916,185			10,000,092			10,210,266
Grants and Subsidies			400,945			399,215			614,112			596,412			614,112
Other Operating Costs			1,088,523			227,621			1,739,996			2,009,910			1,833,956